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love him that is honest; to converse with him

that is wise, and says little; to fear judgment; to

fight when I cannot choose; and to eat no fish.

Lear. What art thou?

Kent. A very honest-hearted fellow, and as

poor as the king.

Lear. If thou be as poor for a subject as he

is for a king, thou art poor enough. What

wouldst thou?

Kent. Service.

Lear. Whom wouldst thou serve?

Kent. You.

Lear. Dost thou know me, fellow?

Kent. No, sir; but you have that in your

countenance which I would fain call master.

Lear. What's that?

Kent. Authority.

Lear. What services canst thou do?

Kent. I can keep honest counsel, ride, run,

mar a curious tale in telling it, and deliver a

plain message bluntly; that which ordinary men

are fit for, I am qualified in, and the best of me

is diligence.

Lear. How old art thou?

Kent. Not so young, sir, to love a woman for

singing, nor so old to dote on her for any thing;

I have years on my back forty-eight.

Lear. Follow me; thou shalt serve me: if I

like thee no worse after dinner I will not part

from thee yet. Dinner, ho! dinner! Where's

my knave? my fool? Go you and call my fool

hither.

 18 fish; cf. n.

